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The Week in
Review: June 23-29, 2003
Last week's features at
3DsoundSurge
Last week's sound news
Drivers and bugs
- New Santa Cruz Drivers
Turtle Beach has released version 4193 release Candidate 1 WDM drivers for their Turtle
Beach Santa Cruz. You can grab them from their FTP site. No word on what's changed from the last
beta build. Thanks to Roj and Amar for the pointers.
- Aureon 7.1 Space Using AudioTrack Prodigy 7.1
Drivers
If you are on the adventurous side and interested in trying out the above you can check out the following thread in our forum where some of our readers
have posted a how to guide.
New
games, demos, patches and bugs
Dave Levison (Composer) interview
Music 4 Games has posted an interview with composer Dave Levison. Games he worked on
includes Star Wars: Jedi Knight, Star Wars: Force Commander, Star Wars: Demolition and RTX
Red Rock.
Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3
players.
Other sound news
- Alienware First to Market with Klipsch GMX A-2.1
Multimedia Speaker System
Alienware is the first PC manufacturer to offer the new Klipsch GMX A-2.1 speakers. "It is always exciting for the Klipsch team to launch new products with
Alienware," said Mark Casavant, Vice President of Multimedia for Klipsch Audio
Technologies. "Over the years we have enjoyed taking performance to new levels with
Alienware, as they have provided leading-edge gaming systems to the discriminating and
influential enthusiast market. Klipsch and Alienware continue this tradition with the
ProMedia GMX A-2.1 speaker system, exuding high-performance and cutting-edge style as a
natural complement to Alienware's awesome computers."
The four-piece Klipsch GMX A-2.1 consists of two-identical,
magnetically shielded satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and a control pod. Each satellite
is a highly efficient two-way design with a 3-inch subwoofer. The subwoofer contains a
75-watt amplifier, which powers the entire system delivering a substantial 108 dB maximum
SPL. The controller provides two stereo inputs, one with RCA jack connections and the
other with a 1/8" minijack. The controller also has a minijack headphone output,
power button, and a master volume control.
For some additional detail and quotes you can check out the full
press release.
- Pioneer Receivers Make the Most of Your Home
Theater Experience
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduced two new digital audio/video receivers, the
VSX-2012 and VSX- C301, designed to give consumers the ultimate control of their home
theater experience. These two new products complement the current line of receivers
including the VSX-D912-K, VSX-D812-K, VSX-D712-K and VSX-D412-K. The VSX-2012, VSX-D912-K, VSX-D812-K and VSX-D712-K include Dolby Digital
EX(TM) and DTS-ES(TM) decoding, which adds sound to the rear center channel, while left
and right surround information is reproduced by the side speakers. The addition of a new
surround channel and use of one or two additional speakers allows true
"fly-over" and "fly-around" effects that are more accurately placed,
either directly behind or directly beside the listener. The VSX-2012 also offers THX --
Select surround processing. You can find more details in
the full press release.
- Pioneer Introduce new hometheater systems
featuring Wireless Speakers, DVD-Audio and SACD
Pioneer Electronics (has added two new home theater systems to its current product line
for a total of seven innovative solutions to meet every consumer need. The Pioneer
HTZ-830DV and the Pioneer Elite EX-500 round out the line of cutting edge products that
offer progressive scan DVD playback, DTS(TM) and Dolby Digital(TM) decoding. The EX-500 combines the functionality of a slim six-channel high-octane
receiver with a DVD-Audio/SACD progressive scan DVD player for the simple elegance that is
expected from the Pioneer Elite name. The receiver is jam-packed with power, boasting a
hundred watts of amplification for each of the six channels, all in a package that weighs
in at fifteen pounds and stands under three inches in height. It processes Dolby Digital
EX(TM), DTS-ES(TM), Dolby Pro Logic II(TM), and offers Pioneer's exclusive automatic
Multi-channel acoustic calibration system (MCACC). This power-packed receiver is the cat's
meow when it comes to technology.
Pioneer Single Disc DVD Home Theater (HTZ-830DV): This single-play
progressive scan DVD player offers DVD-Audio and SACD playback and an integrated
multi-channel receiver that is slim, stylish and packed with features. With five matching
satellite speakers with subwoofer to offer 360 watts of total power, this booming system
will fill the sound field in any room. The HTZ-830DV offers Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby
Pro Logic II surround processing and a pre-programmed system remote.
The EX-500 will be available in July for a manufacturer's suggested
retail price of $850 and the HTZ-830DV will be available in September at a manufacturer's
suggested retail price of $1000. You can find more details in
the full press release.
- Pioneer Elite Receivers Demonstrate the Value of
Advanced Processing
Pioneer Electronics has introduced the VSX-55TXi and VSX-53TX Pioneer Elite digital
audio/video receivers offering audio enthusiasts the latest in digital processing, room
tuning and high-resolution multi-channel audio reproduction. The VSX-55TXi is the second
receiver from Pioneer that allows advanced high-resolution multi- channel digital
interface (i.LINK) for DVD-Audio and SACD connectivity. Both
receivers offer THX-Select(TM), Dolby Digital EX(TM), DTS-ES(TM), Dolby Pro Logic II(TM)
and NEO-6(TM) surround processing. The VSX-55TXi and VSX-53TX will be available in July at
a suggested retail price of $1,700 and $1,500 respectively. You can find more details in
the press release.
- Pioneer Offer Entertainment at Home or on the Go
Pioneer Electronics unveils its new line of digital entertainment equipment that provides
unbeatable audio and video quality for use at home or on the go, including new DVD
recorders that reinforce the company's leadership position in that category. Highlights of
the new product offerings include DVD Recording, Multi-Channel Audio, Display Technology
and Digital Vinyl Turntable. For details read the press release.
- Pioneer Introduces World's First DVD Recorders
With TiVo(R) Service
Pioneer Electronics introduce the world's first DVD recorders featuring the TiVo service.
These new recorders offer consumers the control provided by the easy-to-use TiVo service
integrated with advanced DVD recording for the option of short-term storage on a hard
drive or long-term archival of broadcast programming on DVD-R/RW discs. The DVR-810H and
DVR-57H will be available in the fall 2003 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of
$1,199 and $1,800 respectively. You can find more details
in the press release
- DPS Shipping Portable DVD Burner and Digital
Theater Device
Digital Peripheral Solutions has announced it is shipping its Que!007(TM) Portable DVD
Burner and Digital Theater. The sleek, portable, all-in-one convergence device features a
FireWire DVD burner that also plays DVDs, CDs, MP3s, Picture CDs and PowerPoint
presentations. The Que!007 works equally well as a computer
peripheral or as a standalone battery-powered device. The built-in FireWire interface
allows PC and Mac users to easily record, erase and rewrite DVDs, CDs and MP3 files. The
Que!007 also plays DVD movies, audio CDs, MP3s, karaoke, picture CDs and PowerPoint
presentations directly to a TV or flat-screen display. MSRP for the Que!007 Portable DVD
Burner and Digital Theater is $599. You can find more details in
the press release.
- Apogee Technology Announces QRX Audio Power
Supply Technology
Apogee Technology, a leading provider of digital audio amplifier solutions, announces
QRX(TM) a new switch mode power supply (SMPS) technology. QRX provides high efficiency AC
to DC power conversion meeting the performance and size requirements of audio applications
such as home theater systems. The company has integrated the QRX technology into a custom
module to support SMPS designs from 150 watts to over 1000 watts making it the perfect
solution to be used with Apogee's line of DDX® amplifier products or other applications
requiring high quality power conversion. You can find more details in
the full press release.
For more news from last week check out our news archive.
Upcoming features at 3DsoundSurgeReviews that we are currently working on:
Updated Santa Cruz/Sonic Fury and GameTheaterXP reviews
Hercules Fortissimo II
Terratec DMX Xfire 1024
CMedia CM8738 Reference Review
Full Audigy Review
Full Philips MMS305 Review
There are several other hardware reviews in the pipeline
including, but not limited to the following:
Guillemot Maxi Sound MUSE
Terratec m3po
DigMedia MusicStore
Philips Seismic Edge
Lots of other stuff on the go in including several guides and major site revisions that we
will soon be releasing more details on.
As always if you have any ideas for products we should review or features we should do,
please let us know.
Previous "The week in
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